BALL Watch – Fireman Storm Chaser Pro

Swiss watch maker BALL presents Fireman Storm Chaser Pro, a professional chronograph dedicated to the hunters of most terrific storms. This one is the latest of the “Storm Chaser” chronographs designed by BALL Watch under the impetus of its partnership with Dr. Joshua Wurman, a distinguished meteorologist and member of the BALL Explorers Club.

BALL Watch Company has been honored to count Dr. Joshua Wurman among its ambassadors since 2008. His outstanding scientific achievements made him a natural choice for the BALL Explorers Club, which brings together a host of extraordinary figures who explore new horizons and rise to the greatest challenges. With a ScD in meteorology from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Joshua Wurman is president of the Center for Severe Weather Research (CSWR). He is behind the development of cutting-edge techniques for locating and analyzing tornadoes and hurricanes. Among his many revolutionary inventions in the field of meteorology is “Doppler on Wheels”, which, for the first time in history, has allowed scientists to get as close as possible to tornadoes in order to observe their lower levels and view their devastating winds in near real time. By improving tornado detection, Dr. Wurman’s research has contributed to saving many lives.

The collaboration between BALL Watch and Joshua Wurman has led to the development of “Storm Chaser” chronographs within the Fireman collection. This series brings together a number of modern and robust timepieces that embody the railroad practicality. The new Fireman Storm Chaser Pro is a genuine professional tool that takes the extreme demands of storm chasers like Joshua Wurman in its stride.

The chronograph is equipped with a Swiss automatic mechanical movement that ensures the timepiece runs with perfect precision and records accumulated time up to 12 hours. The day and date, essential everyday information, are displayed in two separate windows at 3 o’clock. The stainless steel case has an ideal 42 mm diameter and a bezel fitted with a matte black anodized aluminum ring. The aluminum heightens the contrast between the bezel and the stainless steel of the case, guaranteeing excellent readability of the telemetric scale.

Working in conjunction with the chronograph, the telemeter makes it possible to easily determine the approximate distance of phenomena that can be seen and heard. Telemetric watches were historically used by military to ascertain the position of enemy artillery. They have since found a more peaceful role in meteorology, where they are used to establish the distance between an observer and a point of lightning impact, for example. It is simply a question of setting off the chronograph the moment lightening is seen and stopping it when thunder is heard. The position of the seconds hand on the telemeter scale shows the distance in kilometers. It’s a function that can turn out to be a valuable tool for both amateur and professional storm chasers alike.

The dial is available in black, grey and white and has been kept deliberately free of superfluous detail to enhance its perfect readability. Subdials at 6 and 12 o’clock are exquisitely worked with grooves that create a contrast with the rest of the dial. The discerning use of bright orange for certain graduations on the dial, the tip of the seconds hand and the push-button that activates the chronograph impart a powerfully contemporary edge to the piece.

As with all BALL watches, the Fireman Storm Chaser Pro is all about light and its indexes and hands are fitted with luminescent micro tubes containing H3 gas. This state-of-the-art Swiss technology is 100 times more effective than conventional luminous paints yet requires no exterior light or energy source. To guarantee optimal diffusion of the light created by the H3 gas, the dial’s micro tubes are raised on metal appliques. The micro gas tubes used for the majority of the hour indexes and the three main hands give off a green-colored light. The indexes at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock produce a yellow glow, while the index at 12 o’clock shows up orange in the dark, a discreet reminder of the color used for other features of the watch. Last but not least, the hands of the subdials are coated with a luminescent blue-toned paint. This nocturnal composition creates an aesthetic combination of colors that gives the timepiece perfect luminosity.

The watch’s mechanical movement can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back. The Fireman Storm Chaser Pro’s solid construction makes it water-resistant to 100 meters and able to withstand impacts up to 5,000Gs. A screwed-in crown and an anti-reflective sapphire crystal are the two well-chosen characteristics that complete the model. The Fireman Storm Chaser Pro comes on a calf leather strap with stitching, also in bright orange, which adds a strongly sporty touch. The Fireman Storm Chaser Pro is also available with a stainless steel bracelet.